Palpable sense of dismay, rejection

HARARE - Some are praying for a miracle, while others just hope it is a nightmare that will soon disappear as the nation remains puzzled by President Robert Mugabe’s controversial landslide victory.

For many, the nightmarish prospects of enduring the next five years under a Zanu PF administration are just too galling to contemplate and nowhere is this more apparent than in the streets of Harare where posters of Mugabe and Tsvangirai remain pasted on walls, defiantly reminding all and sundry that Zimbabwe had a chance to decide its destiny on July 31.

For many, a Zanu PF victory just does not make sense, they accuse the 50-year-old party of being too old and exhausted, of ruining the economy and driving millions of brothers and sisters into exile.

Questions many ask include how can a party that destroyed homes of close to a million people in 2005 at the height of the winter season win an election?

Memories of a gory and horrible 2008 are still fresh in many people’s minds and yet the same government that brought that upon them achieved a logic-defying landslide.

Crestfallen and with sunken spirits, Zimbabweans recall the long winding queues for almost everything from fuel to basic commodities such as salt just a few years ago, and fear the prospect of a return of those dark days.

Since last Thursday, when results of the general election began to filter in, Zimbabweans in Harare have been walking like “zombies,” drowning in dark shadows of pain and disbelief as MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti puts it.

It is only a hope that someone will wake us up in sweat and we will sink into prayer to end the nightmare.

But it is real with the prospect of a Zim-dollar return under Mugabe are now growing by each day.

During his campaign, the 89-year-old strongman indicated that he wants the country to re-introduce its own currency that was devastated by runaway inflation in 2009.

It brought total collapse of public and social services and many young and old are fretting over a prospect of such collapse rearing its head.

A cholera outbreak in 2008, which claimed over 4 000 people under Mugabe’s regime, is another spot of bother in the minds and hearts of millions.

As final results were announced, the vanquished and ordinary people asked in hushed tones just how Zanu PF would win with a landslide when just four years ago it was on the brink of sinking into oblivion.

In commuter omnibuses, among vendors and even at hospitals, there is a palpable sense of dismay and dejection.

Even seemingly staunch Zanu PF supporters are failing to comprehend the overwhelming win as they too like opposition supporters, suspect that the polls were rigged in broad daylight.

But then in Zimbabwe where “gold rains from the skies and where miracle money mysteriously appears in people’s pockets” there is muttering that Zanu PF probably had miracle votes especially in provinces such as Manicaland and Masvingo which were previously strongholds of the MDC.

The atmosphere remains tense and police are combing the streets of Harare obviously anticipating an uprising, but that might never come because none has the zeal to confront the system.

In high density suburbs, soldiers have formed football teams as they try to kill time kicking the ball.

Confounded by the prospect of having tragic-comic characters like Joseph Chinotimba heading to the 8th Parliament, Zimbabweans cannot help but shake their heads in confusion — worried about the unfolding drama that will certainly characterise the legislature.

Comments (2)

Only idiots could not read between the lines. Surely you can't expect a half educated westerns sponsored idiotic puppet to win an election in a country with a very high literacy rate. The economic woes were caused by the sanctions in an attempt to arm twist the populace to accept a puppet leader. God loves Zimbabwe and the sanctions are being overcome with the same party. it was a passing phase. Zimbabwe will prosper with or without the E.U and USA.

reason - 5 August 2013

When Tsvangirai was labelled a 'tea-boy' many did not believe this until he was invited for those famous Monday teas by President Mugabe-and the poor soul drank lots of it until he forgot that the reason why his so called party became popular was that it was solely riding on the crest of the people who were tired of living a pauper's life with no basic commodities on their tables and not that it was a strong political party compared to the ruling revolutionary ZANU PF. Even in 2018 or thereafter MDC will never ever win an election against ZANU PF. In 2008 they manage to get past ZANU PF because this was the heightened time when Zimbos had grow tired of being taken for a ride by politicians whom they voted for by did not deliver food on their tables. There will never be that time again-people do not want its repeat.We urge ZANU PF to take people seriously and deliver its promises wholesome and whole heartedly because we don't want to be confused by the MDC again.

Blacka Dread - 5 August 2013

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